Other Recent Outbreaks
Let’s now look at SARS, MERS and Avian influenza, three recent outbreaks apart from Ebola, which had caused much consternation to the world within the last decade.
SARS
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome or SARS is a severe respiratory disease and is a subtype of the coronavirus. The first outbreak of SARS was reported in Asia in 2003 before it spread to North America, South America and Europe. According to the WHO, the virus infected 8,096 people worldwide and resulted in 774 deaths. Singapore was one of the worst hit areas outside mainland China.
MERS
Middle East Respiratory Syndrome or MERS is another subtype of the coronavirus, and it was first discovered in Saudi Arabia in 2012. The outbreak was primarily contained within the Middle East, with a minor handful reported in France, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom. Unlike the SARS virus, the MERS virus did not appear to be easily spread between people. It had a relatively short and quiet outbreak with global totals of 180 cases and 77 deaths. Whilst the MERS may seem like a disease of the past, there was a time only months ago when we feared if the disease that was spreading primarily in the Middle East, would spread to the rest of the world.